Author: wolfesbuketlistscom

WE MADE IT! CAUGHT A MID MORNING TRAIN FROM CUSCO TO MACHU PICCHU, THEN A HAIR RAISING BUS RIDE UP THE MOUNTAIN ON A SINGLE LANE ROAD THAT THE BUSES COMING DOWN HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY! 

THE INCAS BUILT MACHU PICCHU AS A CITIDEL FOR THEIR LEADERS. ELABORATE STONE WORK AND ENORMOUS GRANITE BLOCKS RISE TERRACE UPON TERRACE.  THE SUN CAST A LIGHT ON THE ALTAR IN THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN AT 7:20 AM DURING OUR LAST WINTER SOLSTICE, AS IT HAS EVERY YEAR SINCE MACHU PICCHU WAS BUILT, IN THE 14TH CENTURY.

TRADITIONALLY GUINEA PIGS ARE EATEN IN PERU, NOT CUDDLED. THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE MENU OF THREE OUT OF FIVE RESTAURANTS SO FAR.

FINALLY, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW MAGGIE ROSE, SHE MUST HACVE A COUSIN IN MACHU PICHU!

CUSCO IS A SMALL TOWN AND THE GATEWAY TO A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION – MACHU PICCHU. THE AIRPORT POSES AN INTERESTING LANDING….  THE PILOT HAS TO NAVIVATE THE VALLEY PASSES TO ARRIVE SAFELY AND THEN SLAM ON THE BRAKES.

WE TOURED A CAMELID FARM WITH ALPACA, LLAMA, VICUÑA AND LAMINI’S. ALL WERE FRIENDLY AS LONG AS WE KEPT FEEDING THEM GREEN STALKS OF GRAIN. SEVERAL OF THE CREATURES COULD BENEFIT FROM AN ORTHODONTIST.

CUSCO’S HISTORY IS STEEPED IN THE ‘OUI-OUI’. THATS THE NOISE MADE BY GUINNEA PIGS, THOSE FURRY CREATURES POPULAR AS PETS IN THE US. IN CUSCO THEY ARE ROASTED AND FEATURED ON RESTAURANT MENUS.

Saturday. Not so much traffic, but a lot of people out shopping and enjoying a beautiful day. We went to Larco Museum, Pre-Columbian pottery, textiles and lots of gold, Lunch in their garden restaurant. Taxi to Miraflores on the beach. Upscale shopping. Interesting people watching. Seafood dinner and sunset.

OUR JOURNEY WAS ALTERED WHEN WE MISSED OUR CONNECTING FLIGHT IN MIAMI. WE SPENT THURSDAY EVENING IN THE LOUNGE AWAITING A 2AM FLIGHT TO LIMA. 

ARRIVING AT THE PEAK OF AM RUSH HOUR TOOK US 2 HOURS TO GET TO OUR HOTEL.  VP PENCE STAYED AT THIS PLACE LAST WEEK. ASSUME HE HAD A LARGER ROOM.

BOOKED A CITY TOUR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. OF COURSE OUR GUIDE WAS READY AND WAITING. GOOD TOUR OF CENTRAL PARKS, MONUMENTS AND CHURCHES. WE ALSO VISITED CENTRAL MARKET A LARGE FOOD AND SHOPPING BLOCK IN THE CITY.